1( ~----- ..... 1198 Contemplation!. Lra.XVIII. ---- he couldnot in the he>e ofthat conviClion, but allow the juftice offuch a feruence. A Far be it from us to accufe Gods commands or executionsofcruelty: Itwas theancient and feremptory charge of God, that the authors of Idolatry and feduClion fhould dye the death ; no eye, no hand might fpare them: The Prophet doth but move the performance of that Law, which lfrael could not without fin have omitted : It is a mercifull and thankwonhy feverityto rid theworldof the Ring-leaders of wickedneffe. Elijah running before Ahab,Jbing from Jezebel. ~~H~•~ ..moof<bofuo• '""""' P"'J>h<"ofd• G~oThey 1< B clofe under thewingof;fe.t.tbel,undenheir plealing fhades:neitherwil be fuffered to undergo the danger ofthis tryall; the carkeifes of their fellowes help to fill up the halfe-dry channell of Kifo•n : Jufticeisno fooner done, then .Ah•b hearesnewes ofmercy from Elijah : Get thee up,rat anddrink,for there iJ af•und •fAhund•nct •fraint:Their meeting was not more harfh, then their parting was friendly: It feemes .Ahab had fpent all that day fafting in an eager attendance ofthofe conflitting Prophets : It mu£\ needs bee late, ere the execmion could be done : Elijahs part begannot till the evening: So farre mu(\ the King oflfmel be from takingthought for the ma!facreof thofe foure hundred and~ Baalites; that now, he maygo eat his breadwith jo;, anddri11k his wine with a chear ~ he.rt : for God accepteth this worke, and teftifies it in the noyfe of much c raine: Everydrofofthatldolatrous blood wasanfwered with a fhowre of raine, with a ftreameo water, and plenty poured downein every fhowre : A fenlible blefling followes the unpaniall ftrokesoffevere ju!Hce:Nothing is more cruel then an unjuft piety. · . No eares but Elijabs could as yet perceive a found ofraine 1 the cloudswere not yet gathered, the vapours were not yet rifen, yet Elijah hearesthatwhich fhall bee : Thofe that are of Gods Counfellcan difcerne either favours or judtments afarre off)he flacke apprehenlions ofcarnall he:irts make them hard to be leeve that, as future, which the quick and refined fenfesofthe flithfull receive, as pre[ent• .Ahab goes up to his repaft; Elijah goes up to his praym:That day had beenpainful to him,the vehemencyofhis fpirit draws himto a negleCl ofhis body:The holy D manclimbesuptothetopof"C~rmel, that now he may talkewith his God alone: neither is he foonerafcended, then he calls himfelf down upon the earth: He bowes hisknees to God, and bowes his face down to his knees:bythishumblepofture acknowledging hisawfull refpects to that Majefty \Vhich he implored : We cannot proftrateourbodies, orfoules, toolowtothat infinitely glorious Deity, who is the Cre:itorofboth. His thoughts were mort high then his body was low:what he faid we know not, we know that what he foid opened the heavens,that for threekeares and ahalf h•d bin fhut up: God hadfaid before, I ,;11 fond raine upon theeart ;yetEiijah mu(\ pray for what Goddid promife ; The promifes of the Almightydo not difcha~e our prayers, but fufJofe them; he will do what he undertakes, but we muft fue or that E which we wou have himdo: Our petitions are included in the decrees, in theingagements of God. The Prj;het had newly feene and caufed the fire to defcend immediatelyout of heaven,he oth not look the water fhould doe fo;he knew that the rainc mu£\ come from the clouds, and that the clouds mu£\ arife from vapours,and thofe v•pours fro the Sea, thence doth he expeCl them:But asnot willin~ that the thoughts ofhis fixed devotion fhould be diftratted,he doth not go himfe fe, onely fends his fervant to bring hi!)l the newes ofhis fucce!fe.At the fir£\ light nothing ~peares:Seven times mu(\ hewalke tothat profpeCl;and not till his !aft view candi cemeought:All that while is the Propbetinhis prayers, neither isanywhit dautedwith thatdelay:Hope holds up 'he headofour holy delires, and perfeverance crowns it:Ifwe receive ooc an
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